Evans was born in West Virginia in 1946 and demonstrated his creative ability very early, learning to paint in oils at the age of nine. He sold his first piece when he was only 13 years-old. Upon fortuitously receiving a camera as a birthday gift, Evans developed a new perspective. Through this new lens, he nurtured the art of seeing.

After attending college and serving in the military, he embarked on an art career that included being the director of live television shows, a photo journalist, and a director of creative advertising. He moved to Texas in the 1970s and established his own studio for photography advertising. In 1985, he left the commercial world of photography to paint and sculpt full-time. Ten years later, he moved to Rockport, where he would pursue his passion among other artists on the Gulf Coast.

Thom Evans had a very successful and prolific career as an artist. His works are in collections throughout the United States and abroad. He is best known for a bold color palette and an intuitive painting style. He taught classes in Rockport and the hill country, and was considered a wonderful teacher. Evans holds the special distinction of being the poster artist for the Rockport Art Festival in 2004.

He spent the last years of his life working on his artist sanctuary, a ranch he called Bellaterra near Kerrville. He is survived by his wife and fellow artist, Deb Gioia.

About Rockport Center for the ArtsA non-profit organization in its 46th year of operation, Rockport Center for the Arts is dedicated to providing an environment that nurtures the expressing and appreciation of art for residents and tourists alike. For more information, call (361) 729-5519, or visit www.rockportartcenter.com. The City of Rockport, famous for its vast colony of more than 800 artists has been identified as one of The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America, by John Villani, and listed as one of the Top 10 Art Colonies by Allen Bunting in Coastal Living. Admission to the Art Center is always free and open to the public.